Love Inspired Historical November 2015

by Linda Ford

  Dutch was in a hurry to be on the road again. “We’ve a long afternoon before us,” he said as he urged them to finish up and return to the stagecoach.

  Louise was as anxious as Dutch to get going. Two more days to get to Fort Macleod, then the trip to the ranch—two more days, as far as she could tell. Nate had been a little vague on the details. Four days and she’d be able to relax.

  When they had only gone a few miles, swaying back and forth in the stagecoach, the pains returned. But they were not regular, not close together. They couldn’t be labor pains. It was only something she’d eaten. Except she felt no nausea. Only a deep, intense pain accompanied by an inner twisting. As if the baby wanted out.

  Well, she thought with some annoyance. She wanted him or her out, too. Just not here and now. You’ll just have to wait, young one.

  The pain disappeared and she leaned her head back and eased air into her lungs in slow, steady breaths as she tried to remember everything she’d been told about birthing—which was surprisingly little. At Rocky Creek, she would have called the midwife. After she left home, she’d been counting on Mrs. Gardiner’s help at the ranch.

  She drifted into a troubled sleep filled with floating images of rolling wagon wheels, a barking dog named Weasel and Nate drifting in the distance, his hand stretched out to her, calling her name though the sound of it never quite reached her.

  She jerked from her sleep with a pain that brought a cry from her lips. She arched her back against the pain, then, realizing everyone watched her, she sucked in air and forced herself to sink back into the seat. She tried to smile, but it felt more like a grimace. “Guess the food is still bothering me.”

  Mr. Adams gave her a steady look. “Ma’am, I don’t believe it’s from something you ate.”

  She looked hard at him, silently begging him to keep his opinion to himself.

  Nate shot forward and peered into her face. “You’re going to have a baby?”

  She patted her bulging stomach. “What does this look like?” Ugh. Her belly tightened with another pain. She would not give in to it. She would not let the others see.

  “You’re going to have it now?” His voice had gone up several notes.

  Missy leaned closer. “Louise, is that what’s the matter?”

  Louise closed her eyes. She just wanted all of them to go away and leave her alone to ride out the pain. Slowly it receded and she looked into Nate’s cloudy blue eyes. “I am not going to have a baby now. Not until I get to Eden Valley Ranch.” She tried another smile. It felt more natural. No more contractions. Please. No more. Not for four days. Please, God.

  Nate studied her hard enough to make her want to look away from his gaze, which would no doubt give him more reason to wonder if she spoke the truth.

  “Please, everyone, stop staring at me. I’m fine.”

  Mr. Adams shifted his gaze. Gabe turned back to his book. Rowena peeked out the curtain at the outdoors. But Missy and Nate continued to study her.

  Then Missy slid her gaze to Nate. “Do you think she’d admit it if the baby is coming?”

  Nate gave Missy his attention, which made it possible for Louise to relax.

  “Nope. She’s far too stubborn.”

  She poked a finger into his side. “I am not stubborn.”

  Missy and Nate continued to look at each other. “Yes, she is,” they said together and smiled.

  Louise snorted. “Aren’t my husband and sister-in-law supposed to be on my side?”

  “Oh, we are,” Nate said. “As much as you’ll let us.” A challenge blared at her from his eyes.

  “I’ll let you know when I need help.”

  “Promise!” His eyes demanded so much from her. And right now she had nothing to give. All she wanted was to be left alone to wait for the next pain and to ride it to its conclusion.

  “I promise.” She closed her eyes and leaned back. After several minutes and no more contractions, she relaxed and let sleep claim her.

  She had no idea how long it was till once more the pain yanked her awake with a gasp. She realized the coach no longer moved. They’d reached the way station where Dutch traded horses.

  “I want to walk,” she said, and Nate helped her down.

  “Nate, can I talk to you?” Mr. Adams said.

  “Missy, stay with her.” Nate handed her off to Missy as if she needed a keeper and went over to speak to Mr. Adams.

  The two of them walked away so she wasn’t able to overhear what was said. Then the pair went to Dutch.

  The way all three looked at her, she knew she was the topic of conversation. If they thought to leave her here at this desolate place with only a grumpy old man and a tiny wooden shack, they would have to reconsider.

  “Let’s go back,” she said to Missy and they hurried over to climb in to the stagecoach. They’d have to drag her out if they figured to leave her behind.

  The men returned and settled themselves. Dutch climbed to the driver’s seat and hollered, “Giddyap!” They galloped along at a furious pace that had her clinging to Nate for stability.

  “Was this your idea?” she managed to say through clenched teeth.

  “I suggested he should hurry. He seems to have taken my words seriously.”

  “Why would you tell him that?” She guessed, but she wanted him to have to confess it was a mistake.

  “Seems you might be glad to be at a stopping house before the baby is born.”

  “I’d be glad to be at Eden Valley Ranch.”

  She scowled at him and he scowled right back.

  Then he chuckled. “Let’s hope and pray one of us is right.”

  The stagecoach raced around a corner and she was thrown against him. He wrapped his arm about her shoulders and held her tight.

  It felt good to be able to lean into his steady grasp and not be thrown from side to side. So good that she made no effort to pull away when the stage straightened. Another contraction came and she squeezed the life from his hand.

  To his credit, he didn’t mention it.

  And then sleep, blessed sleep claimed her for a time.

  She jerked awake to the most powerful contraction she’d had yet. As if someone had grabbed her insides and proceeded to wring them out like a wet dishrag. This one lasted longer than the previous ones.

  She hoped it was false labor, but if it was, she did not want to think what the real thing felt like.

  Nate seemed to know when the pain had passed. Maybe because she stopped squeezing his hand so hard.

  “Okay?”

  She nodded, even though there was nothing okay about any of this. The baby was supposed to wait until they reached Eden Valley Ranch. Now she’d be grateful to be at a stopping house. Oh God, please let it be clean and warm.

  *

  Nate had long since given up the hope Louise only suffered a digestive upset. Archie had made it clear that he recognized the symptoms.

  “It might stop. Sometimes it does. But you best be prepared for your baby to be born soon.”

  His baby. Louise had made it crystal clear this was Gordie’s baby. But Gordie wasn’t here and Nate was. What’s more, Nate was her legal husband, so, for now, it was best if everyone saw the baby as his.

  He longed to flex his cramped fingers, but Louise held on to them like a lifeline. He wasn’t about to take that from her. The latest pain had lasted a long time, though he supposed it was less than thirty seconds.

  How long before they reached the next stopping house? If Dutch had his way, it would be in record time. They rumbled along at a furious rate that half frightened him. An axle could snap on the rough ground. The stage could tip over on one of the corners.

  But none of them fancied seeing a baby born in the cold, cramped quarters of the stagecoach. So no one complained about the fast pace.

  Except for Louise, and even she had stopped saying anything.

  He looked into her face, expecting she would be sleeping again, but her eyes were open and she regarded him with such
desperation that he pressed a kiss to her forehead. “You’ll be fine. I promise.”

  She nodded. “I know,” she whispered, and turned her face into his chest, where she remained.

  He held her close and rubbed her back as she was gripped by another pain. He didn’t know what else he could do and felt so powerless it twisted his insides.

  She slowly relaxed and he knew the pain had passed. Minutes later, he guessed by the way her head rolled that she’d fallen asleep, and he closed his eyes, resting his cheek on the top of her head.

  Funny how all day he’d wanted to touch the braid in her hair and now he could. Her arms were under the robes, but her head was open to the cold and he pulled her shawl up from her shoulders and tucked it about her head, letting his fingers linger over her silky brown hair.

  From outside he heard Dutch command the horses. “Whoa,” he called.

  The stage swayed back and forth, then grew motionless.

  Dutch yanked the door open. “We’re here.”

  Louise jerked awake and sat up.

  No one moved. Nate realized they waited for Louise to exit first.

  He slipped his arm from around her, pushed back the heavy robe and edged toward the door. He jumped down and reached up to help her.

  Before her feet hit the ground, he swept her into his arms.

  “Put me down,” she ordered.

  “When we get inside.”

  “I’m not a cripple.”

  He continued toward the stopping house.

  She struggled, but he wouldn’t release her. “I’m fine.”

  “No, you’re not. You’re about to have a baby.”

  “I’m sure it’s just from bouncing around. This will settle down now we’ve stopped moving. You’ll see.”

  They reached the door and he opened it and set her down. “I hope you’re right, but Archie is the only one among us who seems to have any experience in this matter and he seemed quite certain your discomfort means the baby is coming.”

  She straightened her clothes. “I guess I’m the one to know.”

  The others trooped in, followed by their current host.

  Dutch stepped forward to make the introductions. “This is Phil.”

  “Short for Philomena. Welcome.”

  Every eye turned toward the speaker.

  “A woman,” Missy squeaked.

  “That’s right.” Phil laughed as if their surprise amused her.

  “Consider yourselves smiled upon,” Dutch said with a chuckle. “Phil runs the best stopping house anywhere.”

  “Thanks, Dutch.” Phil talked as if laughter was just below the surface. She was as tall as most men. Her hands were darkened from work, but she had the sweetest smile Nate had seen in some time. She removed her hat and thick black hair tumbled loose to the middle of her back. If Nate hadn’t been so concerned for Louise, he might have stared at her like the others.

  “You folks make yourself comfortable while I finish supper.” She waved them toward the table, covered with a blue-flowered oilcloth, and opened the oven door to release the aroma of roasting meat.

  No one seemed inclined to sit.

  Nate wanted to ease Louise toward a bench, but she walked back and forth behind the table as if feeling the need to stretch her legs.

  She turned, saw him regarding her and gave a wide smile, meant, no doubt, to reassure him.

  He smiled back, hoping he hid his worry.

  She stretched her arms overhead and sighed. “It’s good to be out of the stagecoach for a few hours. Something about the swaying and jerking doesn’t agree with me.”

  The words were for his sake, but there was a general sense of relief.

  Missy hung up her coat and scarf, and did the same for Louise.

  Miss Rolfe joined Phil at the stove. “Can I help you with anything?”

  “Can you make gravy?”

  Miss Rolfe chuckled. “I can do most anything.”

  Dutch headed for the door. “Anyone want to help with the animals?”

  “I’ll be right along,” Phil said.

  Dutch waved aside her offer. “No need. These men are all good at helping.”

  Gabe and Archie trotted after the man. After a moment’s hesitation, Nate turned to follow, but Sam sat watching Phil.

  Nate nudged him. “You coming?”

  Sam jolted. “Huh?”

  “We’re going to feed and bed the animals.”

  “Right.” Sam followed, paused at the door to look back.

  Nate chuckled. “Phil’s a good-looking woman.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Strong and independent, too, to run a stopping house by herself.”

  “Yeah.”

  Nate chuckled. Sam seemed to have lost the ability to talk.

  When they reached the barn, Sam unsaddled Nate’s horse. He hung it over the rack provided and stared at the wall before him, seeming to be wrapped in a daydream.

  Nate grinned as he found a curry brush and tended the horse while the Adamses helped Dutch with the bigger horses.

  “Sure glad we got here in good time,” Archie said, pausing between tossing forkfuls of hay to the animals. “Your wife is mighty close.”

  Nate continued brushing. “She says it’s only from bouncing around.”

  “Could be. But things like that tend to speed up the process.”

  “How long do you think it will take?”

  Archie shrugged. “That’s impossible to guess. Each woman, each baby, is different. It takes however long it takes.”

  That was hardly reassuring, especially for Louise’s sake. The few pains he’d been aware of made him want to stop the process entirely. He didn’t want to see her in pain, hear her gasping.

  They finished the chores and hurried back to the house. Funny, it was the first time he’d thought of one of the way stations as a real house. Guess that’s what a woman’s touch did to a place.

  His thoughts went to the little cabin on the piece of land he hoped to acquire. He hadn’t given the dwelling much thought. Mostly his plans had focused on growing a herd of cows and horses. But wouldn’t it be nice to come home to a place more like this stopping house and less like Dusty’s? Maybe he could clean up the cabin he was about to purchase and even add a room.

  Whoa. He put an instant stop to the direction of his thoughts. There was no need for adding more space. What he had would be good enough for just him.

  Indoors, the women all bustled about the kitchen. Miss Rolfe stirred something on the stove. Missy set the table. Louise sliced a golden loaf of bread while Phil took care of the roast.

  Louise looked up as the men entered. Her gaze searched for Nate and latched on to his eyes when she found him, seeking something from him. He couldn’t say what she sought, but he met her look for look, offering strength, encouragement and promises he didn’t have the right to give.

  He understood the terms of their marriage as well as she. But he had to admit he was growing to like the idea of having her as his wife.

  “It’s all ready, thanks to help from these ladies,” Phil said as the women carried platters and bowls to the table. “Please sit down. I’m sorry I only have benches for you. Someday I hope to have regular chairs.”

  There was a rocking chair and a footstool near a little bookshelf. Phil had certainly added some homey touches to the place.

  Nate waited until Louise sat, then slid in beside her.

  Phil looked around the table. Her gaze stopped at Archie. “Sir, would you object to asking the blessing on our food?”

  “My honor.” He bowed his head and prayed.

  Nate thought his words of gratitude for a fine meal were entirely heartfelt, echoing how all of them felt. Good food, beautifully served. What a pleasure.

  His pleasure grew as they passed around roast venison, mashed potatoes, rich gravy, bright orange carrots.

  “This is a feast fit for a king,” Sam said, color racing up his neck.

  “Thank you. I love to cook.” Phil
laughed. “I love hunting and riding, too. I love watching birds sing and flowers grow. I guess I love most everything about life out here.”

  Sam just stared at her.

  “Tell the others how you got to be here,” Miss Rolfe said, drawing attention from poor Sam, who seemed completely besotted by the lovely Philomena.

  “Wasn’t anything special about how I came here. My pa brought me with him. He set up this way station. Many bull trains come by in the summer and we had a nice little business.” Her smile faded momentarily. “Pa got sick last winter and died this spring. I buried him out back with the help of some bullwhackers.” She grew solemn for a moment, then smiled again. “I planted bluebells over his grave. He loved those flowers. And no one has complained about me running the station for him.”

  “Everyone is grateful,” Dutch said.

  “That’s for sure,” Sam said, and color raced up his neck again.

  Nate turned to Louise, to share amusement over Sam’s state.

  She grinned back at him and he felt a connection that excluded the others.

  Relief eased through him that she ate a decent meal and seemed to have no more pains. He could think of nothing he’d like more than for her to complete the journey and have the baby at Eden Valley Ranch as she hoped.

  Phil gathered up the food when they were finished and brought a plate of cookies for dessert. “I’ve made tea if anyone cares for it.”

  Nate hesitated. The last tea he tasted had left a metallic taste in his mouth. But this wasn’t Dusty’s place. “I’d appreciate some,” he said, and the others echoed him.

  The cookies were fine, the tea even finer and they sat around visiting.

  “Tell me where you are all going,” Phil said.

  One by one, they told of their destination.

  Nate’s turn came. “I’m going to meet a man and hopefully buy me a small ranch.” He glanced at the calendar hanging by the stove. According to Rufus, the mountain man usually visited the week before Christmas in order to send gifts to his daughter, and stayed a few days, often celebrating Christmas with Rufus before he returned to his cabin up the mountain. Nate still had time to get back to Edendale and meet him.

  Phil rested her elbows on the table and leaned her chin on her hands. “A little ranch. That sounds lovely.” She chuckled. “Not that I mind running this stopping house, but maybe I’ll buy some cows and operate a ranch, as well.”